Conductor on Metra BNSF train assaulted

October 22, 2012|By Deanese Williams-Harris | Tribune reporter

(Tribune illustration)

A conductor on an inbound train on Metra's Burlington Northern Santa Fe line was assaulted in an apparent attempted robbery this afternoon, stopping the train for nearly an hour at the Western Avenue station, officials said.

According to preliminary reports, a person was assaulted and paramedics were requested, said Metra spokeswoman Meg Reile, who said the train was stopped for about 56 minutes before it resumed its trip to Chicago's Union Station.

According to a Tribune reporter who was on the train, an announcement was made to passengers that a conductor was attacked by a passenger on the platform and an investigation was under way of an attempted robbery.

Police sources told the Tribune that a Metra employee was attacked by a person with a knife and that other Metra employees stepped in to subdue the attacker.

The train was halted at the Western Avenue station while police investigated. Service could not resume until police released the train, Reile said.

It was unclear if anyone was injured during the assault.

There was no immediate information available about the incident from the Chicago Police Department.